Rabies in Non-Canine Species: A Retrospective Study of Laboratory Detected Cases in the Sahelian Zone of Cameroon from 2014 To 2020

Abstract

A seven years retro-prospective study (2014–2020) was conducted to determine non-canine rabies cases detected at the LANAVET, in the Northern regions of Cameroon. Information was collected from laboratory registers and reports within the defined period. The main results show that 76/278 (27.3%) non-canine rabies cases have been detected (63/218 in DFAT: 28.9%; 13/60 in PCR: 21.7%). Five groups (Chiroptera: 88.2%; Felines: 6.6%; Primates, Bovidae and Suidae: 5.3%) and ten animal species were concerned. These results highlight the necessity to conduct an active surveillance of rabies in dogs and bats, to minimise other mammal cases.